Red Lobster will have three full floors in the building, plus the culinary center on the first floor, for 300 employees.

The company signed a long-term lease with CNL on Wednesday for 91,226 square feet, believed to be the largest lease in the downtown business district since the Great Recession. The lease includes naming rights on the building.

The company also said it plans to hire 70 new employees in two years for the new headquarters, mostly in information technology. A culinary center and tasting room will be located on the first floor of the building, with some windows offering views from the lobby.

“We were looking for a place where employees could feel they are a part of an energetic and dynamic area,” said Salli Setta, president of Red Lobster. “They can really enjoy attractions downtown, like the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts and Amway Center, within walking distance. Many of them are already taking SunRail and they’re thrilled that this will be right next to a SunRail station.”

Setta said the company also looks forward to bringing the public into the tasting center occasionally. The move downtown expected to be complete by early 2015.

In choosing a downtown location, Red Lobster decided to leave Darden’s sprawling modern campus on John Young Parkway, which was built in 2009 for $152 million to consolidate all of Darden’s operations. Attempts to reach Darden for comment on the Red Lobster announcement Wednesday were not successful by press time.

In an interview, CEO Kim Lopdrup noted that Red Lobster was formerly located downtown.

“We’re excited about the opportunities we have as a standalone company,” Lopdrup said. He said Red Lobster also looked at other locations in Orange and Seminole counties.

"Having an Orlando-based company's headquarters moving to downtown is a tremendous validation of all the work that has gone into making the heart of Orlando more attractive for businesses and residents," Paul Ellis, group president of CNL Commercial Real Estate, said in a news release.

Ellis said he expects more companies to announce they are moving headquarters downtown soon.

Representing Red Lobster in the lease negotiations was Sean McConnell of McConnell Capital. Alex Rosario and Paul Reynolds of CNL also worked on the lease.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said in an emailed statement that he welcomed Red Lobster downtown and thanked the company for "investing" in the downtown area. He said the addition of SunRail, the Dr. Phillips Center, the new Florida Citrus Bowl and the start of construction on the new soccer stadium were adding to downtown momentum.